However, police foiled their attempt by taking several BJP workers in preventive custody from outside the Pragati Bhavan- the official residence complex cum camp office of the chief minister.

The city BJP unit had given a call for Chalo Pragati Bhavan on March 5, following which a large number of party activists gathered near the complex and squatted on the road when police swung into action and took them away in vehicles.

"Police foiled the attempts by BJP workers to hold a protest and lay siege toï¿½Pragati Bhavan and several activists were taken into preventive custody," DCP (West Zone) A Venkateshwar Rao told PTI.

As many as 455 protesters, including MLA Ch Ramachandra Reddy, were taken into preventive custody and released later, according to Punjagutta police station inspector S Ravindar.

Demanding an "unconditional apology" from Rao, the protesters said they would continue with their protests until the TRS chief withdrew his "remarks".

The Telangana BJP in a statement said state unit president K Laxman, party MLAs G Kishan Reddy, NVVS Prabhakar, T Raja Singh Lodh and MLC N Ramchander Rao were put under "house arrest" by police.

About 2,000 party workers and leaders were taken into preventive arrests in different parts of the city since last night, it said.

The BJP claimed that Rao had made "objectionable" comments and used "abusive" language against the prime minister and the Central government during his recent public meetings in the state.

However, Rao had last week said that he had nothing against the PM, and had never used any foul language against him as alleged by some BJP leaders.

In a related development, the BJP unit held a meeting of its core committee and decided to leave the matter to the "wisdom" of the chief minister.

The core committee discussed that Rao is talking about third front in national politics to divert public attention from his alleged failure to implement electoral promises and also to promote his son, the release said. PTI VVK SJR NSK

This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.

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